U.S. patent application number 12/956085 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-02 for information processing apparatus, audio apparatus, and information processing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJITSU TEN LIMITED. Invention is credited to Noriyuki KAMIKAWA, Tatsuki KUBO, Takatsugu ONO.
Application Number | 20110131494 12/956085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44069776 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110131494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ONO; Takatsugu ; et
al. |
June 2, 2011 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AUDIO APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION
PROCESSING METHOD
Abstract
An information processing apparatus is provided. An item
selection device selects, through a selection manipulation unit, an
item from a plurality of items which are displayed in the form of a
list and arranged in an arrangement direction. A manipulation
detection unit detects a state of a selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit. A display area enlargement unit
enlarges a display area of the selected item in the arrangement
direction when the manipulation detection unit detects that the
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is
stopped.
Inventors: |
ONO; Takatsugu; (Kobe-shi,
JP) ; KAMIKAWA; Noriyuki; (Kobe-shi, JP) ;
KUBO; Tatsuki; (Kobe-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
KOBE-SHI
JP
|
Family ID: |
44069776 |
Appl. No.: |
12/956085 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/716 ;
715/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0482 20130101;
G11B 19/025 20130101; G06F 3/0338 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/716 ;
715/810 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2009 |
JP |
2009-271713 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus comprising an item selection
device that selects, through a selection manipulation unit, an item
from a plurality of items which are displayed in the form of a list
and arranged in an arrangement direction, the item selection device
including: a manipulation detection unit that detects a state of a
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit; and a
display area enlargement unit that enlarges a display area of the
selected item in the arrangement direction when the manipulation
detection unit detects that the selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit is stopped.
2. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the selection manipulation unit is a rotary manipulation
unit which selects an item by a rotating manipulation.
3. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the manipulation detection unit detects that the selection
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is stopped by a
non-detection time of the selection manipulation in the selection
manipulation unit.
4. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising a detailed information display unit that
displays detailed information about the selected item on the
display area of the selected item when the manipulation detection
unit detects that the selection manipulation of the selection
manipulation unit is stopped.
5. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the display area enlargement unit enlarges the display area
of the selected item in accordance with the amount of the detailed
information displayed by the detailed information display unit.
6. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the display area enlargement unit enlarges the display area
of the selected item in accordance with the number of items of the
detailed information displayed by the detailed information display
unit.
7. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the display area enlargement unit selects whether to
enlarge the display area of the selected item in accordance with a
hierarchy of items of the detailed information displayed by the
detailed information display unit.
8. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising a text size varying unit that varies a size of a
text which is displayed on the display area of the selected item in
accordance with a size of the display area of the selected
item.
9. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the items are displayed such that display areas of the
items gradually become smaller as it is getting out of the selected
item.
10. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising a position display unit that displays position
relationship of the selected item with respect to all of the items
in the list.
11. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the items are displayed in a cyclic manner that first to
n-th items are sequentially displayed by the selection manipulation
of the selection manipulation unit, the n-th item is followed by
the first item when the selection manipulation is in a forward
direction, and the first item is followed by the n-th item when the
selection manipulation is in a backward direction.
12. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 11,
further comprising a boundary line display unit that displays a
boundary line between the first item and the n-th item.
13. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising: a selection decision unit that makes the
selected item in a selection decided state; an operation control
unit that makes a controlled appliance in an operation state
corresponding to selected item in the selection decided state; a
storage unit that stores the operation state of the controlled
appliance; a return manipulation unit that performs an instruction
to make the controlled appliance return to the operation state
stored in the storage unit; and a return control unit that reads
the operation state stored in the storage unit and makes the
controlled appliance return to the operation state when the
instruction is performed by the return manipulation unit.
14. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising: an upper hierarchy display unit that displays
an upper hierarchy item which are an item of an upper hierarchy; a
lower hierarchy display unit that displays lower hierarchy items
which are items of a lower hierarchy corresponding to the upper
hierarchy item displayed by the upper hierarchy display unit, as
the items displayed in the form of the list; and an upper hierarchy
change detection unit that detects a changing manipulation for
changing the upper hierarchy item, wherein when the upper hierarchy
change detection unit detects the changing manipulation, the upper
hierarchy display unit displays the changed upper hierarchy item
and the lower hierarchy display unit displays lower hierarchy items
corresponding to the changed upper hierarchy item.
15. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 14,
wherein the upper hierarchy change detection unit detects a slide
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit.
16. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15,
wherein the upper hierarchy change detection unit includes: a
hierarchy movement manipulation detection unit that detects a
direction of the slide manipulation of the selection manipulation
unit; and a hierarchy movement unit that moves hierarchy of the
items displayed in the form of the list in accordance with the
direction of the slide manipulation, detected by the hierarchy
movement manipulation detection unit.
17. An audio apparatus comprising an item selection device that
selects, through a selection manipulation unit, music piece
information from a plurality of music piece information which are
displayed in the form of a list and arrange in an arrangement
direction, the selection device including: a manipulation detection
unit that detects a state of a selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit; and a display area enlargement unit
that enlarges a display area of the selected music piece
information in the arrangement direction when the manipulation
detection unit detects that the selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit is stopped.
18. The audio apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further
comprising: a decision manipulation detection unit that detects a
decision manipulation which makes the selected music piece
information in a selection decided state; and a decided music piece
reproduction unit that reproduces a music piece corresponding to
the selected music piece information in the selection decided
state.
19. The audio apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further
comprising a selected music piece reproduction unit that reproduces
a music piece corresponding to the selected music piece
information.
20. The audio apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the
selection manipulation unit is a rotary manipulation unit which
selects music piece information by a rotating manipulation, wherein
the audio apparatus further comprises a rotating speed detection
unit that detects a rotating speed of the rotating manipulation of
the rotary manipulation unit, and wherein when the rotating speed
detected by the rotating speed detection unit is higher than a
predetermined value, the selected music piece reproduction unit
skips a predetermined number of music pieces.
21. The audio apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further
comprising: a music piece reproduction unit that reproduces a music
piece; and a music piece change detection unit that detects a
change of the music piece being reproduced by the music piece
reproduction unit, wherein when the music piece change detection
unit detects the change of the music piece being reproduced, music
piece information corresponding to the music piece being reproduced
is displayed in a manner of the selected music piece
information.
22. The audio apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further
comprising: a reproduction history storing unit that stores
reproduction history of music pieces; and a historic order
reproduction unit that reproduces the music pieces in the
reproduction history stored in the reproduction history storing
unit in a historic order from a music piece selected by the
selection manipulation unit.
23. An item selection method for selecting, through a selection
manipulation unit, an item from a plurality of items which are
displayed in the form of a list and arranged in an arrangement
direction, the item selection method comprising: detecting a state
of a selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit; and
enlarging a display area of the selected item in the arrangement
direction when detecting that the selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit is stopped.
Description
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2009-271713 filed on Nov. 30, 2009, including specification,
drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a manipulation device for
performing manipulation of an appliance, and more particularly to a
manipulation device which is suitable for a vehicle-mounted
appliance and the like and selects a corresponding item from a
plurality of items.
[0003] A vehicle-mounted appliance has long been multifunctional,
and one appliance has diverse kinds of content, for example,
functions of a TV, radio receiver, CD, HDD, DVD, navigation, and
the like. For example, a user in a vehicle can watch the TV, and
also can watch or listen to content such as the CD or radio
receiver while he/she is guided by a navigation function whilst
driving. With such a multifunctional vehicle-mounted appliance, the
method of manipulating the appliance also becomes complicated, and
diverse functions and manipulation items according to each content
are displayed in the form of a list. As a frequently used
manipulation method, a user selects a desired function/manipulation
item from the list of content, and thus the corresponding
function/manipulation item selectively starts to operate. For
example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of manipulating a
vehicle-mounted appliance by performing a selection of a plurality
of contents and items included in the content.
[0004] In the related art, in the case of selecting a desired item
from a plurality of items, it is possible to see a large amount of
information about one display screen through a display of many
selection items on the display screen. Also, in the case of
displaying a large number of items on one screen, the number of
display screen switching operations is reduced, and thus it is not
necessary to repeat the performing of the display switching
operation several times whilst driving. Also, the number of times a
user views the switched screen is also reduced.
[0005] However, since the vehicle-mounted appliance is limited by
the area it is mounted in, the size of a display that displays
information that is necessary for manipulation is restricted.
Accordingly, in the case of displaying many items on one display
screen, the display items being displayed are concentrated, and a
display area of one item and displayed text becomes smaller causing
the visibility of each item to deteriorate. Also, as the amount of
information that can be displayed for one item becomes smaller, the
information for a user to determine whether to select or not may be
missing from the display screen.
[0006] In contrast, if the number of items for one screen is
reduced to enlarge the display area when items are selected in
order to increase the visibility, the amount of information that
can be displayed on the display area for one item becomes larger,
and thus the visibility can be improved. However, since the number
of items displayed on one display screen becomes smaller, a user
has to perform the display screen switching operation several times
in order to confirm many items. For example, if it is assumed that
the number of selection items is 100 and the number of items that
can be displayed on one display screen is 5, it is necessary to
change the manipulation screen 20 times, and this may cause the
user great inconvenience.
[0007] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-022179
SUMMARY
[0008] It is therefore an object of at least one embodiment of the
present invention to realize an improvement in the visibility and
manipulability of a selection display screen in manipulating item
selection.
[0009] In order to achieve at least one of the above-described
objects, according to a first aspect of the embodiments of the
present invention, there is provided an information processing
apparatus comprising an item selection device that selects, through
a selection manipulation unit, an item from a plurality of items
which are displayed in the form of a list and arranged in an
arrangement direction, the item selection device including: a
manipulation detection unit that detects a state of a selection
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit; and a display area
enlargement unit that enlarges a display area of the selected item
in the arrangement direction when the manipulation detection unit
detects that the selection manipulation of the selection
manipulation unit is stopped.
[0010] For example, in a device in which titles of a plurality of
music pieces to be selected are displayed in the form of a list and
a user selects a candidate music piece in the list through a
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit, if the
user stops the selection manipulation for changing the candidate
music piece, it is assumed that the user desires to confirm the
contents of the candidate music piece, and thus text is enlarged
through widening of the display area or detailed information is
displayed to improve the visibility, the amount of information
being displayed, and the like.
[0011] The selection manipulation unit may be a rotary manipulation
unit which selects an item by a rotating manipulation.
[0012] For example, in a device in which the candidate music piece
is changed in a sequential list through the rotating manipulation
of the rotary manipulation unit, if the candidate music piece is
changed at a speed that follows the rotating manipulation speed and
the rotation stops, the text is enlarged through widening of the
display area of the candidate music piece at that time or the
detailed information is displayed to improve the manipulability and
visibility for selecting a music piece.
[0013] The manipulation detection unit may detect that the
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is
stopped by a non-detection time of the selection manipulation in
the selection manipulation unit.
[0014] For example, in a device in which the candidate music piece
is changed in a sequential list through the rotating manipulation
of the rotary manipulation unit, if a signal that indicates the
rotation is not output for a predetermined time, it is determined
that the rotating manipulation has been stopped, and the rotation
stop which has no relation to the user's intention to confirm the
candidate music piece under the manipulation circumstances (when
the required rotation number cannot be obtained at a time such as
greatly moving the candidate music piece, and the like) is
excluded, thereby improving the accuracy of the assumption that the
user desires to confirm the candidate music piece.
[0015] The information processing apparatus may further comprise a
detailed information display unit that displays detailed
information about the selected item on the display area of the
selected item when the manipulation detection unit detects that the
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is
stopped.
[0016] For example, in a device in which the candidate music piece
is changed in a sequential list through the rotating manipulation
of the rotary manipulation unit, the user's confirmation of the
candidate music piece can be easily and certainly performed by
estimating the user's intention to confirm the candidate music
piece from the stop of the rotating manipulation and displaying the
detailed information about the candidate music piece.
[0017] The display area enlargement unit may enlarge the display
area of the selected item in accordance with the amount of the
detailed information displayed by the detailed information display
unit.
[0018] For example, in a device in which the candidate music piece
is changed in a sequential list through the rotating manipulation
of the rotary manipulation unit, the user's confirmation of the
candidate music piece can be easily and certainly performed by
making it possible to estimate the user's intention to confirm the
candidate music piece from the stop of the rotating manipulation
and displaying the detailed information about the candidate music
piece or enlarging the size of the text.
[0019] The display area enlargement unit may enlarge the display
area of the selected item in accordance with the number of items of
the detailed information displayed by the detailed information
display unit.
[0020] For example, in a device in which the candidate music piece
is changed in a sequential list through the rotating manipulation
of the rotary manipulation unit, information about the
corresponding candidate music piece and information about the other
music pieces is efficiently displayed and the user's confirmation
of the candidate music piece or the other music pieces can be
easily and certainly performed by estimating the user's intention
to confirm the candidate music piece from the stop of the rotating
manipulation and varying the width of the display area in
accordance with the amount of information about the detailed
information that the candidate music piece has.
[0021] The display area enlargement unit may select whether to
enlarge the display area of the selected item in accordance with a
hierarchy of items of the detailed information displayed by the
detailed information display unit.
[0022] For example, if an upper hierarchy is a genre of a music
piece and a lower hierarchy is title of the music piece, detailed
information about the genre is not so necessary, and it is
convenient to increase the number of displayed genres rather than
to display the detailed information about the candidate genre. By
contrast, with respect to the title of the music piece, it is
frequently desired to confirm the detailed information thereof. As
described above, since the necessity of the detailed information
differs according to the hierarchy, whether to enlarge the display
area of the candidate item is set according to the necessity, and
thus manipulability of the user's selection manipulation is
improved.
[0023] The information processing apparatus may further comprise a
text size varying unit that varies a size of a text which is
displayed on the display area of the selected item in accordance
with a size of the display area of the selected item.
[0024] For example, by enlarging the size of the displayed text in
accordance with the size of the display area of the candidate music
piece, information about the corresponding candidate music piece
and information about the other music pieces are displayed to be
easily seen, and the user's confirmation of the candidate music
piece or the other music pieces can be easily and certainly
performed.
[0025] The items may be displayed such that display areas of the
items gradually become smaller as it is getting out of the selected
item.
[0026] For example, the closer the display area is to the display
area of the candidate music piece, the larger the display area is,
and thus enlargement of the size of the displayed text becomes
possible. Accordingly, it becomes easier to select the
corresponding candidate music piece. Particularly, in the case of
the selection by the rotating manipulation, it becomes easy to
obtain the stop time of the rotating manipulation, and thus
manipulability is greatly improved.
[0027] The information processing apparatus may further comprise a
position display unit that displays position relationship of the
selected item with respect to all of the items in the list.
[0028] For example, by displaying a mark on a position according to
a recording order of the whole music pieces to be selected among
the music pieces being selected in a scroll bar having a length
according to the whole number of music pieces to be selected, it
can be grasped which position in the whole range of the music
pieces to be selected the candidate music piece being selected is
in, and in the case where the brief position of the desired music
piece is grasped, the desired music piece can be promptly found to
greatly improve the search manipulability.
[0029] The items may be displayed in a cyclic manner that first to
n-th items are sequentially displayed by the selection manipulation
of the selection manipulation unit, the n-th item is followed by
the first item when the selection manipulation is in a forward
direction, and the first item is followed by the nth item when the
selection manipulation is in a backward direction.
[0030] For example, in the case of switching to the last music
piece during listening to the forefront music piece, an immediate
selection of the music piece is possible by the moving manipulation
in the backward direction of the recording order, and thus the
music piece selection manipulation can be greatly improved.
[0031] The information processing apparatus may further comprise a
boundary line display unit that displays a boundary line between
the first item and the n-th item.
[0032] For example, by displaying the boundary line between the
forefront music piece and the last music piece in the music piece
list, the user can grasp the position of the forefront or last
music piece, and thus the search manipulability in selecting the
music piece can be greatly improved.
[0033] The information processing apparatus may further comprise: a
selection decision unit that makes the selected item in a selection
decided state; an operation control unit that makes a controlled
appliance in an operation state corresponding to selected item in
the selection decided state; a storage unit that stores the
operation state of the controlled appliance; a return control unit
that reads the operation state of the controlled appliance from the
storage and makes the controlled appliance return to the operation
state when; and a return manipulation unit that performs an
instruction to make the controlled appliance return to the
operation state stored in the storage unit; and a return control
unit that reads the operation state stored in the storage unit and
makes the controlled appliance return to the operation state when
the instruction is performed by the return manipulation unit.
[0034] For example, in the case where a channel selection
manipulation is performed to listen to an AM radio broadcast during
reproduction of music by the HD reproduction device, but no
favorable program is found, it is frequently wanted to return to
the original music reproduction state, but it requires a
complicated music selection manipulation. Accordingly, by a simple
manipulation that is called a "return button" manipulation, it is
possible to return to the original music reproduction state, and
thus manipulability is improved.
[0035] The information processing apparatus may further comprise:
an upper hierarchy display unit that displays an upper hierarchy
item which are an item of an upper hierarchy; a lower hierarchy
display unit that displays lower hierarchy items which are items of
a lower hierarchy corresponding to the upper hierarchy item
displayed by the upper hierarchy display unit, as the items
displayed in the form of the list; and an upper hierarchy change
detection unit that detects a changing manipulation for changing
the upper hierarchy item, wherein when the upper hierarchy change
detection unit detects the changing manipulation, the upper
hierarchy display unit displays the changed upper hierarchy item
and the lower hierarchy display unit displays lower hierarchy items
corresponding to the changed upper hierarchy item.
[0036] For example, the upper hierarchy can be directly changed
without moving the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, and in
the ease of changing the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy,
the lower hierarchy is also changed to a lower hierarchy that
follows the corresponding upper hierarchy (for example, it is
preferable to restore the upper hierarchy to the state of the lower
hierarchy at the latest time for the corresponding previous items).
Accordingly, the change manipulation of the upper hierarchy is
facilitated, and the manipulation state also becomes appropriate
according to the upper hierarchy selection state to improve
manipulability.
[0037] The upper hierarchy change detection unit may detect a slide
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit.
[0038] For example, the items of the upper hierarchy are changed by
the slide manipulation of the rotary manipulation unit in an
upward/downward direction (a direction that is orthogonal to the
hierarchy arrangement), and thus the manipulation coincides with
the manipulator's manipulation sense to improve the manipulation
easiness. Also, the manipulation can be made without taking a hand
off the lower hierarchy manipulation, and thus manipulability is
improved.
[0039] The upper hierarchy change detection unit may include: a
hierarchy movement manipulation detection unit that detects a
direction of the slide manipulation of the selection manipulation
unit; and a hierarchy movement unit that moves hierarchy of the
items displayed in the form of the list in accordance with the
direction of the slide manipulation, detected by the hierarchy
movement manipulation detection unit.
[0040] For example, the items of the upper hierarchy move to the
lower hierarchy by the slide manipulation of the rotary
manipulation unit in a left/right direction (a direction of the
hierarchy line) and the corresponding items are displayed as a
list. Accordingly, the items of the upper hierarchy can be selected
by the rotating manipulation, and thus manipulability is
improved.
[0041] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the
present invention, there is provided an audio apparatus comprising
an item selection device that selects, through a selection
manipulation unit, music piece information from a plurality of
music piece information which are displayed in the form of a list
and arrange in an arrangement direction, the selection device
including: a manipulation detection unit that detects a state of a
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit; and a
display area enlargement unit that enlarges a display area of the
selected music piece information in the arrangement direction when
the manipulation detection unit detects that the selection
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is stopped.
[0042] For example, in a device in which titles of a plurality of
music pieces to be selected are displayed in the form of a list and
a user selects candidate music pieces in the list through a
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit, if the user stops
the manipulation for changing the candidate music pieces, it is
assumed that the user desires to confirm the contents of the
candidate music pieces, and thus the text is enlarged through
widening of the display area or detailed information is displayed
to improve the visibility, the amount of information being
displayed, and the like.
[0043] The audio apparatus may further comprise: a decision
manipulation detection unit that detects a decision manipulation
which makes the selected music piece information in a selection
decided state; and a decided music piece reproduction unit that
reproduces a music piece corresponding to the selected music piece
information in the selection decided state.
[0044] For example, by maintaining the original music piece
reproduction state when a user performs change manipulation of a
candidate music piece and first starting the reproduction of the
candidate music piece by performing the decision manipulation, an
equivocal music piece reproduction in the middle of the change
manipulation is suppressed, and thus a state where a user feels
unpleasant is prevented from occurring.
[0045] The audio apparatus may further comprise a selected music
piece reproduction unit that reproduces a music piece corresponding
to the selected music piece information.
[0046] For example, when a user performs a change manipulation of
the candidate music piece, the decision manipulation is not
necessary, and by immediately reproducing the music piece that is
in a change manipulation selection state of the candidate music
piece, the manipulation can be simplified even in the case where a
user searches for a desired music piece while seeing a portion of
the music piece.
[0047] The selection manipulation unit may be a rotary manipulation
unit which selects music piece information by a rotating
manipulation, the audio apparatus may further comprise a rotating
speed detection unit that detects a rotating speed of the rotating
manipulation of the rotary manipulation unit, and when the rotating
speed detected by the rotating speed detection unit is higher than
a predetermined value, the selected music piece reproduction unit
may skip a predetermined number of music pieces.
[0048] For example, if the user performs the change manipulation of
the candidate music pieces at a high speed, for example, through
skipping over 5 music pieces, the reproduction of the respective
music pieces for a very short time, to which the listening is of no
use, can be prevented, and thus a practical manipulation support
function can be realized in searching for the music pieces.
[0049] The audio apparatus may further comprise: a music piece
reproduction unit that reproduces a music piece; and a music piece
change detection unit that detects a change of the music piece
being reproduced by the music piece reproduction unit, wherein when
the music piece change detection unit detects the change of the
music piece being reproduced, music piece information corresponding
to the music piece being reproduced may be displayed in a manner of
the selected music piece information.
[0050] For example, if the reproduced music piece is changed if the
reproduced music piece is switched to the next music piece after
the reproduction of the previous music piece has ended, the music
piece information that is displayed in a selected state is changed
to that of the music piece being reproduced, and thus the currently
reproduced music piece information can be immediately confirmed.
Also, in the case of performing the change manipulation of the
candidate music piece, the music piece search manipulation can be
performed based on the currently reproduced music piece, and thus
the information providing and manipulability can be improved.
[0051] The audio apparatus may further comprise: a reproduction
history storing unit that stores reproduction history of music
pieces; and a historic order reproduction unit that reproduces the
music pieces in the reproduction history stored in the reproduction
history storing unit in a historic order from a music piece
selected by the selection manipulation unit.
[0052] For example, by making it possible to perform music
selection manipulation in due order based on the reproduction
history order, such as returning to the music piece reproduced
before the currently reproduced music piece, the manipulation which
wholly gratifies the user's sense can be realized.
[0053] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the
present invention, there is provided an item selection method for
selecting, through a selection manipulation unit, an item from a
plurality of items which are displayed in the form of a list and
arranged in an arrangement direction, the item selection method
comprising: detecting a state of a selection manipulation of the
selection manipulation unit; and enlarging a display area of the
selected item in the arrangement direction when detecting that the
selection manipulation of the selection manipulation unit is
stopped.
[0054] For example, in a device in which titles of a plurality of
music pieces to be selected are displayed in the form of a list and
a user selects candidate music pieces in the list through the
manipulation of the selection manipulation unit, if the user stops
the manipulation for changing the candidate music pieces, it is
assumed that the user desires to confirm the contents of the
candidate music pieces, and thus text is enlarged through the
widening of the display area or detailed information is displayed
to improve the visibility, the amount of information being
displayed, and the like.
[0055] According to the present invention, for example, with
respect to an appliance having an audio function and a navigation
function or the like, a user's convenience in use can be
improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0056] In the accompanying drawings:
[0057] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
an AVN integrated appliance;
[0058] FIGS. 2A to 2D are schematic views illustrating the
construction of a remote manipulation unit;
[0059] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of a form screen;
[0060] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a menu screen;
[0061] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an HDD manipulation
screen;
[0062] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an album search
manipulation screen;
[0063] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a music piece selection
manipulation screen;
[0064] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a "My Best" search
manipulation screen;
[0065] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a music piece title display
enlargement screen;
[0066] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a navigation manipulation
screen;
[0067] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a function display
enlargement screen;
[0068] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an enlargement display
process;
[0069] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a pressing manipulation
music reproduction process;
[0070] FIGS. 14A to 14C are flowcharts illustrating a music piece
selection manipulation process;
[0071] FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts illustrating a "return"
manipulation process;
[0072] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a historic order music
piece selection manipulation screen;
[0073] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display type indicating
a positional relationship in the whole list of the selected
item;
[0074] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a steering wheel on which a
remote manipulation unit is installed;
[0075] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a preferential display
type of an image preferential display; and
[0076] FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating a preferential
display type of an area preferential display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0077] A vehicle-mounted audio/visual/navigation integrated
appliance (hereinafter referred to as an "AVN integrated
appliance") according to an embodiment of the present invention
will be described hereinafter.
[0078] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
an AVN integrated appliance according to an embodiment of the
present invention, "101" denotes a control unit which receives
input signals from respective units of the AVN integrated appliance
or an external appliance connected thereto and manipulation
indication signals from respective manipulation units based on a
user's manipulation, and generally controls the respective units of
the AVN integrated appliance or the external appliance based on the
signals. For example, the control unit is configured by a
microcomputer, and operates according to a program stored in a
memory such as a ROM or the like.
[0079] "102" denotes a broadcast receiving unit which selectively
receives a broadcast wave of a specified frequency from broadcast
waves received by an antenna, modulates and outputs an audio signal
and an image signal (in the case of a television broadcast) of the
corresponding broadcast. The broadcast receiving unit is composed
of a tuning circuit, demodulation/decoding circuit, and the like.
Various kinds of operations of the broadcast receiving unit, such
as an on/off operation, received frequency, and the like, are
controlled by control signals from the control unit 101. "103"
denotes a disc reproduction unit which reads data stored in a disc
through a pickup, and outputs audio/image signals (for example, in
the case of a DVD or BD (Blu-ray Disc)) based on the read data. The
disc reproduction unit is composed of an optical pickup, a
pickup/disc driving mechanism, a control circuit of the pickup/disc
driving mechanism, a decoding circuit of the read signal, and the
like. Various kinds of operations of the disc reproduction unit
103, such as an on/off operation, reading position, and the like,
are controlled by control signals from the control unit 101.
[0080] "104" denotes an HD reproduction unit which stores music
data such as MP3 files, image data such as PEG files, map data for
navigation, and the like, in a hard disc (HD) that is a magnetic
recording medium, reads desired data from various kinds of data
stored, and outputs an image signal, an audio signal, and a text
signal. The HD reproduction unit is composed of an HD drive, a
decoding circuit of a read signal, and the like. Various kinds of
operations of the HD reproduction unit 104, such as an on/off
operation, data to be read, and the like, are controlled by control
signals from the control unit 101.
[0081] "105" denotes a navigation unit which guides a path to a
destination by displaying a vehicle position or a path to the
destination on a map, guiding a traveling direction such as
left/right turn or the like by voice or the like at an
intersection, obtaining and displaying traffic information from a
VICS information receiving unit 106 and vehicle position
information from a GPS information receiving unit 107 to be
described later. The navigation unit is composed of a hard disc
(HD) that stores map information that is used for navigation, a CPU
that performs various kinds of operations, and a memory such as a
RAM for storing data for various kinds of processes. Various kinds
of operations of the navigation unit such as an on/off operation or
the like are controlled by control signals from the control unit
101.
[0082] "106" denotes a VICS information receiving unit which
receives traffic information about VICS (Vehicle Information &
Communication System) (registered mark) and outputs the received
traffic information. The VICS receiving unit is composed of
receivers (FM receiver, radio wave beacon receiver, and optical
beacon receiver) receiving data from the VICS, a decoding circuit
that decodes the received data, and the like. "107" denotes a GPS
information receiving unit which detects a vehicle position based
on a GPS signal from a GPS (registered mark) satellite and outputs
the detected present position information. The GPS information
receiving unit is composed of a GPS signal receiving circuit that
receives the GPS signal, and an operation unit that calculates the
vehicle position based on the received GPS signal.
[0083] "108" denotes a distribution circuit which outputs audio
signals and image signals from various kinds of sources (the disc
reproduction unit 103, the broadcast receiving unit 102, the HD
reproduction unit 104, and the navigation unit 105), the outputs of
which are designated by the control signals of the control unit
101, to an audio control circuit 110 and an image control circuit
109. The distribution circuit is composed of a switch group having
electronic circuits such as relays or switching transistors. "109"
denotes an image control circuit which controls luminance, color
tone, contrast, and the like, of the input image signal and outputs
a controlled image signal by the control signal of the control unit
101. The image control circuit is composed of a memory storing
image data, an operation circuit such as a digital signal processor
or the like that performs an operation of the image data, and the
like.
[0084] "110" denotes an audio control circuit which controls the
volume and audio of the input audio signal and outputs a controlled
audio signal by the control signal of the control unit 101. The
audio control circuit is composed of a memory storing audio data,
an operation circuit such as a digital signal processor that
performs operation of the image data, an amplification/attenuation
circuit or a resonance circuit having transistors, resistors,
capacitors, and coils. "111" denotes a speaker that outputs the
audio signal input by the audio control circuit 110.
[0085] "112" denotes an image output unit which receives an input
image signal from the image control unit and a display image signal
for being displayed on a display unit from the control unit 101,
performs image synthesis or the like, and drives the display unit
113 based on the processed image signal. For example, the image
output unit is composed of an image ASIC which is an operation
processing circuit that is specialized to perform an image process
by an operation process, a video memory that stores image data for
processing/outputting an image, and an image driving circuit that
drives the display unit based on the image data stored in the video
memory for outputting an image. "113" denotes the display unit that
displays an image based on an image signal input by the image
output unit 112, and may be composed of, for example, a liquid
crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, a cold
cathode flat panel display, or the like.
[0086] "114" denotes a manipulation unit for a user of the
apparatus to perform various kinds of manipulations. The
manipulation unit is composed of, for example, a touch panel, a
push button switch, rotary manipulation switch, joystick, and the
like. "115" denotes a memory (recording medium) for storing various
kinds of data or a control program. For example, the memory is made
of a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), a rewritable flash memory, or the like.
"116" denotes a remote control unit which is installed in a place
that is apart from the main body of the AVN integrated appliance
body installed on an instrument panel or the like of the vehicle,
for example, around an elbow rest between a driver's seat and a
passenger seat or on a steering wheel, to output a user's input
manipulation state. In this embodiment, the remote control unit
detects a rotating manipulation, a tilt manipulation, and pressing
manipulation of the manipulation unit. In this case, the remote
manipulation unit is composed of a rotary encoder that outputs
signals according to the rotating manipulation amount and
direction, a tilt sensor composed of a pressure-sensitive sensor,
such as a joystick or the like, to output signals according a tilt
manipulation direction, and a pressing switch of which the on/off
state is changed by the pressing manipulation.
[0087] Specifically, for example, the structure of the remote
manipulation unit is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2D. FIG. 2A is a
perspective view of the remote manipulation unit 116 as illustrated
in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the remote manipulation unit 116 can
perform a pressing manipulation that performs a decision
manipulation by the movement of an inner handle 201 in a center
axis direction, a tilt manipulation that performs a hierarchy
movement or hierarchy change by the movement of the inner handle
201 in 8 vertical directions of the center axis, and a rotating
manipulation that performs the selection manipulation by the
rotation of an outer handle 202 around the center axis (a clockwise
rotation is referred to as a forward rotation and a
counterclockwise rotation is referred to as a backward
rotation).
[0088] Also, FIG. 2B is a schematic plan view of the structure of
the remote manipulation unit 116, and FIG. 2C is a schematic plan
view of a detection portion of the remote manipulation unit 116.
The inner handle 201 is attached to an operation shaft 203 of a
switch unit that detects the pressing manipulation and the tilt
manipulation. In the switch unit, the operation shaft 203 is
installed, which extends in the pressing manipulation direction and
is fixed to a switch chassis (fixed to a printed circuit board) so
that it can somewhat elastically move with an elastic material such
as rubber, and at the other end of the operation shaft 203, an
operation piece 204 that spreads out crosswise is installed. Also,
on respective end portions and the center portion of the operation
piece 204, pressing protrusions are formed to press a switch 206
which is installed on the printed circuit board that is positioned
below the operation piece. Also, the outer handle 202 is fixed to a
rotary driving unit of a rotation sensor 205 that is composed of a
rotary encoder. In this case, the rotation sensor 205 which has a
hollow center portion is attached to the printed circuit board, and
the switch unit 206 is attached to a portion of the printed circuit
board where the hollow portion is positioned.
[0089] If the inner handle 201 is press-manipulated, the operation
shaft 203 moves in the pressing direction, and the switch 206 which
is positioned below the center portion of the operation piece is
pressed. When the switch 206 detects the pressing manipulation, it
outputs a pressing manipulation signal to the control unit 101.
Also, if the inner handle 201 is tilt-manipulated, the operation
shaft is tilted, and the switch 206 that is positioned below the
end portion of the operation piece 204 is pressed according to the
slope of the operation shaft. The pressed switch 206 outputs a tilt
manipulation signal that indicates the tilt manipulation in the
corresponding direction to the control unit 101. At this time, for
example, if one portion of the switch 206 that is positioned below
the operation piece 204 is pressed, the control unit 101 determines
that a tilt manipulation is made in up, down, left, and right
directions, while if two portions of the switch 206 are pressed,
the control unit determines that a tilt manipulation is made in a
tilt direction between the two portions of the switch 206 by the
tile manipulation signals from the two corresponding portions of
the switch 206. Also, if the outer handle 202 is
rotation-manipulated, the rotary driving unit of the rotation
sensor 205 is rotated, and the rotation sensor 205 outputs a signal
according to the rotating manipulation direction and the rotating
manipulation amount.
[0090] Also, one handle structure can be realized instead of two
inner and outer handle structure as described above. FIG. 2D is a
schematic section view of the remote manipulation unit 116 having
one-handle structure. The handle 211 is attached to the operation
shaft 213 of the switch unit that detects the pressing manipulation
and the tilt manipulation. In the switch unit, the operation shaft
213 is installed, which extends in the pressing manipulation
direction and is fixed to a switch chassis (fixed to a printed
circuit board) 219 so that it can somewhat elastically move with an
elastic material such as rubber, and at the other end of the
operation shaft 213, an operation piece 214 that spreads out
crosswise is installed. Also, on respective end portions and the
center portion of the operation piece 214, pressing protrusions are
formed to press a switch 216 which is installed on the printed
circuit board that is positioned below the operation piece. A
portion 217 that is inserted into the handle 211 of the operation
shaft 213 has a circular section, and balls 212 are interposed in
grooves between the operation shaft 213 and the handle 211 (the
balls 212 are rotatably fixed in holes of the operation shaft 213
or the handle 211). In this structure, the operation shaft 213 is
not rotated to follow the rotation of the handle 211. Also, a
portion 218 that is inserted into a switch chassis 219 of the
operation shaft 213 has a tetragonal section, and an insertion hole
of the operation shaft 213 in the switch chassis 219 has the same
tetragonal section (is large enough to accommodate the operation
shaft inserted therein). Accordingly, although the operation shaft
213 is not rotated against the rotation of the handle 211, the
operation shaft 213 moves to follow the pressing manipulation and
the tilt manipulation of the handle 211.
[0091] Also, the handle 211 is fixed to the rotary driving unit of
the rotation sensor 215, which is composed of a rotary encoder and
the like and is fixed to the switch chassis 219, to be movable in a
pressing direction (in the drawing, upper limit direction). In this
case, the rotation sensor 215 which has a hollow center portion is
attached onto the switch chassis 219, and its signal line is
connected to a circuit pattern of the printed circuit board. At
this time engagement portions of the handle 211 and the rotary
driving unit of the rotation sensor 215 are all in the shape of a
tetragonal section, and the rotary driving unit of the rotation
sensor 215 is rotated to follow the rotating manipulation of the
handle 211. Also, engagement portions of the handle 211 and the
rotation sensor 215 have no engagement structure in a pressing
manipulation movement range of the handle in the pressing direction
(in the drawing, upper limit direction), and the handle 211 is
movable in the pressing direction. At this time, although the
illustration is omitted, an engagement structure (for example,
combination of prominence and depression structures) that restricts
the pressing manipulation movement range of the handle 211 exists,
and prevents the disengagement of the handle 211 from the rotation
sensor.
[0092] In this handle structure, if the handle 211 is
press-manipulated, the operation shaft 213 moves in the pressing
direction, and the switch 216 which is positioned below the center
portion of the operation piece is pressed. When the switch 216
detects the pressing manipulation, it outputs a pressing
manipulation signal to the control unit 101. Also, if the handle
211 is tilt-manipulated, the operation shaft is tilted, and the
switch 216 that is positioned below the end portion of the
operation piece 214 is pressed according to the slope of the
operation shaft. The pressed switch 216 outputs a tilt manipulation
signal that indicates the tilt manipulation in the corresponding
direction to the control unit 101. At this time, for example, if
one portion of the switch 216 that is positioned below the
operation piece 214 is pressed, the control unit 111 determines
that a tilt manipulation is made in up, down, left, and right
directions, while if two portions of the switch 216 are pressed,
the control unit determines that a tilt manipulation is made in a
tilt direction between the two portions of the switch 216 by the
tile manipulation signals from the two corresponding portions of
the switch 216. Also, if the handle 212 is rotation-manipulated,
the rotary driving unit of the rotation sensor 215 is rotated, and
the rotation sensor 215 outputs a signal according to the rotating
manipulation direction and the rotating manipulation amount.
[0093] Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted information
process according to an embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0094] The control unit 101 executes the processing of the
vehicle-mounted information processing apparatus according to a
user's manipulation by executing a program stored in the memory 115
in accordance with the manipulation of the remote manipulation unit
116 or the manipulation unit 114, and provides various kinds of
content to a user.
[0095] Also, the control unit 101 distributes images and audios
from various kinds of content (the broadcast receiving unit 102,
the disc reproduction unit 103, the HD reproduction unit 104, and
the navigation unit 105) to the image control circuit 109 and the
audio control circuit 110, respectively, through the distribution
circuit 108 that distributes the designated content to the audio
control circuit 110 and the image control circuit 109 based on the
instruction from the control circuit 101. The image control circuit
109 controls the luminance, color tone, contrast, and the like of
the images, and the image output unit 112 displays the controlled
images on the display unit 113. The audio control circuit 110
controls the distribution of the audios to the respective speakers
111, volume, and audios, and the speakers 111 output the controlled
audios.
[0096] Next, various kinds of operation modes in the AVN integrated
appliance as shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
[0097] [Broadcast Receiving Mode]
[0098] The broadcast receiving mode is a mode for receiving and
reproducing broadcasts such as AM/FM/TV broadcasts through the
broadcast receiving unit 102. The hierarchys of selection items in
the broadcast receiving mode may be a received band (AM/FM/TV), a
received frequency (received channel), and a service that is
included in the same broadcasting wave in a digital broadcast (for
example, in a digital terrestrial TV, three programs may be
broadcast with a standard picture quality in the same
broadcast).
[0099] If a reproduction instruction signal of a received broadcast
is input from the remote manipulation unit 116 or the manipulation
unit 114, the control unit 101 outputs a start signal, a received
band (AM/FM/TV) in the just previous broadcast receiving mode, and
data of the received frequency to the broadcast receiving unit 102.
When these signals are input, the broadcast receiving unit 102
starts the receiving operation, sets the received band and the
received frequency based on the input data, and outputs the audio
signal and the image signal of the received broadcasting wave to
the distribution circuit 108. Also, the control unit 101 outputs a
control signal for outputting the input signal from the broadcast
receiving unit 102 to the following end to the distribution circuit
108. The distribution circuit 108 receives this control signal, and
outputs the audio signal from the broadcast receiving unit 102 to
the audio control circuit 110 and the image signal to the image
control circuit 109, respectively. Also, the control unit 101
outputs various kinds of control signals to the audio control
circuit 110, the image control circuit 109, and the image output
unit 112 in accordance with the manipulation situation of the
remote manipulation unit 116 and the manipulation unit 114 and the
receiving state of the broadcasting wave.
[0100] The audio control circuit 110, in accordance with the audio
control signal from the control unit 101, performs a control
process of the audio quality, volume, and the like, power-amplifies
and outputs the audio signal, which is input to the audio control
circuit 110, to the speaker 111. The speaker 111 outputs the input
audio signal as the audio. Also, the image control circuit 109,
according to the image control signal from the control unit 101,
controls the luminance, color tone, contrast, and the like of the
input image signal, and outputs the controlled image signal to the
image output unit 112. On the other hand, the control unit 101
outputs a received information image, such as a manipulation screen
for manipulating the broadcast receiving unit, channel number, and
the like, and an image signal such as data images of a
multi-broadcast to the image output unit 112. The image output unit
112 synthesizes the image signal input from the image control
circuit 109 and the image signal input from the control unit 101 in
accordance with a synthesis control signal input from the control
unit 101, and outputs the synthesized image signal. The display
unit 113 displays the image on the display unit 113 based on the
image signal input from the image output unit 112.
[0101] [Disc Reproduction Mode]
[0102] A disc reproduction mode is a mode in which a disc
reproduction unit 103 reads and reproduces information from a
recording medium disc such as CD/DVD/BD. The hierarchy of selection
items in the disc reproduction mode (in the case of a changer that
selectively reproduces a plurality of discs) may be, for example, a
disc type (CD/DVD/BD), a disc name (album name, movie name, and the
like), a track number (title of music piece), and a chapter number
(partition of images).
[0103] The control unit 101, if a disc reproduction instruction
signal is input from the remote manipulation unit 116 or the
manipulation unit 114, outputs a start signal and a reproduction
interruption data that indicates the reproduction state in the just
previous disc reproduction mode to the disc reproduction unit 103.
If these signals are input, the disc reproduction unit 103 starts a
reading operation of the information recorded on the disc, sets the
read start position of the disc based on the reproduction
interruption data so as to make the disc read start position or the
like correspond to the reproduction state in the just previous disc
reproduction mode to perform the operation, decodes the data read
from the disc, and outputs the decoded audio signal and image
signal to the distribution circuit 108. The control unit 101
outputs a control signal for outputting the input signal from the
disc reproduction unit 103 to the following end to the distribution
circuit 108. The distribution circuit 108 receives the control
signal, and outputs the audio signal from the disc reproduction
unit 103 to the audio control circuit 110 and the image signal to
the image control circuit 109, respectively. Also, the disc
reproduction unit 103 outputs additional data, such as text data of
the read chapter name, track name, title name, and the like, to the
control unit 101. Also, the control unit 101 outputs various kinds
of control signals to the audio control circuit 110, the image
control circuit 109, and the image output unit 112 in accordance
with the manipulation situation of the remote manipulation unit 116
or the manipulation unit 114 and the reproduction state of the data
read from the disc.
[0104] The audio control circuit 110, in accordance with the audio
control signal from the control unit 101, performs a control
process of the audio quality, volume, and the like, power-amplifies
and outputs the audio signal to the speaker 111. The speaker 111
outputs the input audio signal as the audio. Also, the image
control circuit 109, according to the image control signal from the
control unit 101, controls the luminance, color tone, contrast, and
the like of the input image signal, and outputs the controlled
image signal to the image output unit 112. On the other hand, the
control unit 101 outputs a manipulation screen for manipulating the
disc reproduction unit, reproduction information such as a chapter
number, a track name, and the like, and an image signal such as an
image and the like, to the image output unit 112. The image output
unit 112 synthesizes the image signal input from the image control
circuit 109 and the image signal input from the control unit 101 in
accordance with a synthesis control signal input from the control
unit 101, and outputs the synthesized image signal. The display
unit 113 displays the image based on the image signal input from
the image output unit 112.
[0105] [HD Reproduction Mode]
[0106] An HD reproduction mode is a mode in which an HD
reproduction unit 104 reads and reproduces information recorded on
HD. The HD reproduction unit 104, since it has a large recording
capacity, for example, enables a user to perform a music piece
search in diverse hierarchy structures by giving additional
information to the music piece. For example, the HD reproduction
unit enables a user to collect, make a list of, and select music
pieces by artists, enables a user to collect, make a list of, and
select music pieces by discs recorded, i.e. by albums, or enables a
user to collect, make a list of (so called a type expressed as "My
Best" or the like), and select music pieces by music genres, or
enables a user to make a list of, and select music pieces collected
according to the user's taste. The hierarchy of selection items in
the HD reproduction mode, for example, may be a list kind type
(artist/album/genre/"My Best"), items or the like in a list (artist
name/album name/genre name/"My Best" name), and a music piece
title.
[0107] The control unit 101, if an HD reproduction instruction
signal is input from the remote manipulation unit 116 or the
manipulation unit 114, outputs a start signal and a reproduction
interruption data that indicates the reproduction state in the just
previous HD reproduction mode to the HD reproduction unit 104. If
these signals are input, the HD reproduction unit 104 starts a
reading operation of the information recorded on the HD, sets the
read start position of the HD based on the reproduction
interruption data so as to make the HD read start position or the
like correspond to the reproduction state in the just previous disc
reproduction mode to perform the operation, decodes the data read
from the HD, and outputs the read audio signal and image signal to
the distribution, circuit 108. The control unit 101 outputs a
control signal for outputting the input signal from the HD
reproduction unit 104 to the following end to the distribution
circuit 108. The distribution circuit 108 receives the control
signal, and outputs the audio signal from the HD reproduction unit
104 to the audio control circuit 110 and the image signal to the
image control circuit 109, respectively. Also, the distribution
circuit 108 outputs additional data, such as text data of the read
chapter name, track name, title name, and the like, to the control
unit 101. Also, the control unit 101 outputs various kinds of
control signals to the audio control circuit 110, the image control
circuit 109, and the image output unit 112 in accordance with the
manipulation situation of the remote manipulation unit 116 or the
manipulation unit 114 and the reproduction state of the data read
from the disc.
[0108] The audio control circuit 110, in accordance with the audio
control signal from the control unit 101, performs a control
process of the audio quality, volume, and the like, power-amplifies
and outputs the audio signal, which is input to the audio control
circuit 110, to the speaker 111. The speaker 111 outputs the input
audio signal as the audio. Also, the image control circuit 109,
according to the image control signal from the control unit 101,
controls the luminance, color tone, contrast, and the like of the
input image signal, and outputs the controlled image signal to the
image output unit 112. On the other hand, the control unit 101
outputs a manipulation screen for manipulating the HD reproduction
unit, reproduction information such as a chapter number, a track
name, and the like, and an image signal such as an image and the
like, to the image output unit 112. The image output unit 112
synthesizes the image signal input from the image control circuit
109 and the image signal input from the control unit 101 in
accordance with a synthesis control signal input from the control
unit 101, and outputs the synthesized image signal. The display
unit 113 displays the image based on the image signal input from
the image output unit 112.
[0109] [Navigation Mode]
[0110] A navigation mode is a mode in which display of a map,
vehicle position, and the like, and display of a navigation
manipulation screen are performed, and a navigation manipulation
can be performed through a touch panel or the like based on the
display screen. In this ease, even in a navigation mode, the audio
reproduction by the broadcast receiving unit 102, the disc
reproduction unit 103 or the HD reproduction unit 140
continues.
[0111] The control unit 101, if a navigation manipulation
instruction signal is input from the remote manipulation unit 116
or the manipulation unit 114, outputs a start signal and a
manipulation instruction signal to the navigation unit 105. If the
start signal is input, the navigation unit 105 starts a guide
operation, and outputs a start signal to a VICS broadcast receiving
unit 102 and a GPS information receiving unit 107. On the other
hand, if the start signal is input from the navigation unit 105,
the VICS broadcast receiving unit 102 starts a VICS receiving
operation, and outputs received traffic information to the
navigation unit 105. Also, if the start signal in input from the
navigation unit 105, the UPS information receiving unit 107 starts
a CPS receiving operation, and outputs current position information
received to the navigation unit 105. Also, the navigation unit 105
performs a route search or route change of the destination based on
the traffic information input from the VICS broadcast receiving
unit 102, the current position information input from the GPS
information receiving unit 107, and the manipulation instruction
signal input from the control unit 101, and outputs the audio
signal and image signal which are necessary for the navigation mode
to the distribution circuit 108.
[0112] In this case, the navigation unit 105 starts when an engine
of the vehicle starts, and thereafter, continuously performs
vehicle position calculation, reception of VICS broadcasting
information whilst the engine operation. In the same manner, the
VICS broadcast receiving unit 102 and the GPS information receiving
unit 107 continue their operation regardless of the reproduction
mode whilst the engine operation. Accordingly, if there is a
manipulation for the navigation device, path guide information such
as display of the vehicle position on a map or the like can be
immediately provided. The control unit 101 outputs a control signal
for outputting the input signal from the navigation unit 105 to the
following end to the distribution circuit 108. The distribution
circuit 108 receives this control signal, and outputs the audio
signal from the navigation unit 105 to the audio control circuit
110 and the image signal to the image control circuit 109,
respectively.
[0113] Also, the control unit 101 outputs various kinds of control
signals to the audio control circuit 110, the image control circuit
109, and the image output unit 112 in accordance with the
manipulation situation of the remote manipulation unit 116 and the
manipulation unit 114 and the guide state. The audio control
circuit 110, in accordance with the audio control signal from the
control unit 101, performs a control process of the audio quality,
volume, and the like, power-amplifies and outputs the audio signal,
which is input to the audio control circuit 110, to the speaker
111. The speaker 111 outputs the input audio signal as the audio.
Also, the image control circuit 109, in accordance with the image
control signal from the control unit 101, controls the luminance,
color tone, contrast, and the like of the input image signal, and
outputs the controlled image signal to the image output unit 112.
On the other hand, the control unit 101 outputs guide information
such as a manipulation screen for manipulating the navigation unit
and an image signal such as an image to the image output unit 112.
The image output unit 112 synthesizes the image signal input from
the image control circuit 109 and the image signal input from the
control unit 101 in accordance with a synthesis control signal
input from the control unit 101, and outputs the synthesized image
signal. The display unit 113 displays the image on the display unit
113 based on the image signal input from the image output unit
112.
[0114] FIGS. 3A to 11 are schematic diagrams of manipulation
screens displayed on the display unit 113 under the control of the
control unit 101. These manipulation screens are changed based on
the user's manipulation through the remote manipulation unit 116 or
the manipulation unit 114.
[0115] FIG. 3A schematically shows a manipulation screen. The
manipulation screen is divided into a manipulation screen area 301,
a sub-screen area 302, and an operation state display area 303. In
the sub-screen area 302, images before the manipulation screen is
displayed, for example, a map image of navigation, an image of a
digital terrestrial TV, a DVD reproduced image, a back camera
capture image, and the like, are displayed. In the operation state
display area 303, the operation states of the AVN integrated
appliance, for example, a source name being reproduced, a track
number of a music piece, a reproduction mode, a reproduction time,
and the like, are displayed.
[0116] Also, a selection screen area that performs the display for
the manipulation is divided into an upper area 304, an intermediate
area 305, and a lower area 306. Various kinds of upper hierarchy
items are displayed in the upper area 304, and an upper hierarchy
item that is in a selected state is displayed in an upper selection
display area (the center of upward/downward direction of the upper
area 304) 307. Intermediate hierarchy items are displayed in the
intermediate area 305, and an intermediate hierarchy item that is
in a selected state is in an intermediate selection display area
(the center of upward/downward direction of the intermediate area
305) 308. Lower hierarchy items are displayed in the lower area
306, and a lower hierarchy item that is in a selected state is
displayed in a lower selection display area (the center of
upward/downward direction of the lower area 306) 309. Also, a
boundary line 310 is a boundary line that indicates an end of a
list of the lower hierarchy items and a start end portion. By
indicating the boundary line 310, the user can confirm one end or
both ends of the items. A scroll bar 311 indicates the position of
the whole list displayed along the lower area 306. The items
displayed in the lower area 306 may be cyclically displayed.
Through such a cyclical display, the user can confirm the same item
several times by an input manipulation in one direction.
[0117] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a modified example of the
manipulation screen area 301 of the selection manipulation. The
display area of each item displayed in the upper area 304 and the
lower area 306 may become gradually smaller as it is further apart
from the item that is in a selected state. By displaying the
display area of the item that is in a selected state with the
largest size, the user can easily see the item that is currently in
a selected state.
[0118] [Menu Screen]
[0119] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a menu screen. This menu
screen is displayed when a menu key is manipulated. In the upper
area 304 of the manipulation screen area 301, a title "menu" of the
menu screen is displayed. Also, in the lower area 306, selectable
source names ("TV Broadcast", "Disc", and the like) are displayed.
If the remote manipulation unit 116 is rotation-manipulated, the
item that is in a selected state in the lower selection area moves
in order. For example, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
backwardly rotated in a display state of FIG. 4, the item that is
in a selected state moves from "Disc" to "HDD" and "TV Broadcast".
Also, if the remote manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the
item that is in a selected state moves from "Disc" to "Navigation"
and "Setting/Edition". As described above, if the rotating
manipulation is forward rotation, the item that is in a selected
state moves downward in order, while if the rotating manipulation
is backward rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves
upward in order. In this case, the display type of the item that is
in a selected state, for example, the text color, background color,
font, text size, or the like, may be changed in addition. Although
in the menu screen of this embodiment, the sub-screen area 302 is
omitted, the display type may be adopted, in which the sub-screen
area 302 is removed and the manipulation screen area 301 occupies
the whole screen.
[0120] In this case, the moving direction of the item that
corresponds to the forward rotation may be set so that the user's
manipulation rotation direction and the sense of the moving
direction of the item coincide with each other according to the
display type (the design of the manipulation screen and so on).
Also, the rotating manipulation to be described hereinafter may be
performed in the same manner.
[0121] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
press-manipulated, the manipulation screen is shifted to the
manipulation screen of the item that is in a selected state at that
time (the item that is in a selected state in the lower selection
area). For example, if the item that is in a selected state is
"HDD", the manipulation screen is shifted to an HDD manipulation
screen when the remote manipulation unit 116 is
press-manipulated.
[0122] The manipulation through the remote manipulation unit 116
has been described. In manipulating a touch panel constituting the
manipulation unit 114, the item that corresponds to the touched
position is considered to be selected, and the corresponding
operation is performed. The touch panel manipulation to be
described hereinafter will operate in the same manner.
[0123] [HDD Manipulation Screen]
[0124] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an HDD manipulation screen.
The HDD manipulation screen is displayed when the mode is shifted
to an HD reproduction mode according to the menu screen or direct
key manipulation. In the upper area 304 of the manipulation screen
area 301, the title "HDD" of the HDD manipulation screen is
displayed. Also, in the lower area 306, selectable search items
("Album", "Artist", and the like) are displayed. In the same manner
as the menu screen, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
rotation-manipulated, the item that is in a selected state in the
lower selection area moves in order. For example, if the remote
manipulation unit 116 is backwardly rotated in a display state of
FIG. 5, the item that is in a selected state moves from "Genre" to
"My Best" and "Album". Also, if the remote manipulation unit is
forwardly rotated, the item that is in a selected state moves from
"Genre" to "Recording Date" and "Artist". As described above, if
the rotating manipulation is forward rotation, the item that is in
a selected state moves downward in order, while if the rotating
manipulation is backward rotation, the item that is in a selected
state moves upward in order. In this case, the display type of the
item that is in a selected state, for example, the text color,
background color, font, text size, or the like, may be changed in
addition. Also, if the music piece being reproduced has ended and
the next music piece is shifted to reproduction, the music piece
information about the new corresponding reproduced music piece is
displayed as the item that is in a selected state in the lower
selection area according to the shift to the reproduced music
piece.
[0125] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
press-manipulated in a state where the item that is in a selected
state is "Album", the manipulation screen is shifted to an album
search manipulation screen. If the remote manipulation unit 116 is
tilt-manipulated in the left direction, the manipulation screen is
shifted to the menu screen.
[0126] [Album Search Manipulation Screen]
[0127] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an album search
manipulation screen. The album search manipulation screen is
displayed when the manipulation screen is shifted from the HDD
manipulation screen. Search items are displayed in the upper area
304 of the manipulation screen area 301, and the item "Album" that
is in a selected state is displayed in the upper selection display
area 307. Also, selectable album names are displayed in the lower
area 306. In the same manner as the menu screen, if the remote
manipulation unit 116 is rotation-manipulated, the item that is in
a selected state in the lower selection area moves in order. For
example, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is backwardly rotated
in a display state of FIG. 6, the item that is in a selected state
moves from "AAA" to "ZZZ" and "YYY". Also, if the remote
manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the item that is in a
selected state moves from "AAA" to "BBB" and "CCC". As described
above, if the rotating manipulation is forward rotation, the item
that is in a selected state moves downward in order, while if the
rotating manipulation is backward rotation, the item that is in a
selected state moves upward in order. In this case, the display
type of the item that is in a selected state, for example, the text
color, background color, font, text size, or the like, may be
changed in addition.
[0128] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
press-manipulated in a state where the item that is in a selected
state is "AAA", the manipulation screen is shifted to a music piece
search manipulation screen for selecting a music piece in the album
"AAA". If the remote manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in
the upward/downward direction, the item that is in an upper
selected state moves. For example, in the case of the tilt
manipulation in the upward direction, the manipulation screen moves
from "Album" to "Artist", while in the case of the tilt
manipulation in the downward direction, the manipulation screen
moves to "My Best". Also, if the item that is in a upper selected
state moves, the corresponding manipulation screen, for example,
the lower area 306 in which "Artist" is in an upper selection state
is changed to the screen in which the artist name is displayed. If
the remote manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in the left
direction, the manipulation screen is shifted to the screen of the
upper hierarchy items, that is, the HDD manipulation screen.
[0129] [Music Piece Selection Manipulation Screen]
[0130] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a music piece selection
manipulation screen. Search items are displayed in the upper area
304 of the manipulation screen area 301, and an item that is in a
selected state in the just previous manipulation screen, i.e.
"Album" in this embodiment, is displayed in the upper selection
display area 307. Also, in the intermediate area 305, an item that
is in a selected state in the just previous manipulation screen,
i.e. album name "AAA" in this embodiment, is displayed in the
intermediate selection display area 308. Also, selectable music
piece titles are displayed in the lower area 306. In the same
manner as the menu screen, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
rotation-manipulated, the item that is in a selected state in the
lower selection area moves in order. For example, if the remote
manipulation unit 116 is backwardly rotated in a display state of
FIG. 7, the item that is in a selected state moves from "Track List
1" to "Track List 10" and "Track List 9". Also, if the remote
manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the item that is in a
selected state moves from "Track List 1" to "Track List 2" and
"Track List 3". As described above, if the rotating manipulation is
forward rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves
downward in order, while if the rotating manipulation is backward
rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves upward in
order. In this case, the display type of the item that is in a
selected state, for example, the text color, background color,
font, text size, or the like, may be changed in addition.
[0131] Also, if the item that is in a selected state, for example,
"Track List", continues for a predetermined time, the manipulation
screen is shifted to a music piece title display enlargement
screen. If the remote manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in
the upward/downward direction, the item that is in an upper
selected state moves. For example, in the case of the tilt
manipulation in the upward direction, the manipulation screen moves
from "Album" to "Artist", while in the case of the tilt
manipulation in the downward direction, the manipulation screen
moves to "My Best". Also, if the item that is in an upper selected
state moves, the screen is changed to the corresponding
manipulation screen. For example, in the case of the tilt
manipulation in the downward direction, the manipulation screen is
shifted to a "My Best" search manipulation screen. Also, if the
remote manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in the left
direction, the manipulation screen is shifted to the manipulation
screen of the upper hierarchy items, that is, the album selection
manipulation screen.
[0132] In the foregoing description, it is exemplified that "Album"
is selected in the upper area. However, the same manipulation
contents and display state are obtained even in a state where other
items, such as "My Best" and the like, are selected.
[0133] [My Best Search Manipulation Screen]
[0134] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of "My Best" search
manipulation screen. Search items are displayed in the upper area
304 of the manipulation screen area 301, and an item that is in a
selected state in the just previous manipulation screen, i.e. "My
Best" in this embodiment, is displayed in the upper selection
display area 307. Also, selectable "My Best" names are displayed in
the lower area 306. In the same manner as the menu screen, if the
remote manipulation unit 116 is rotation-manipulated, the item that
is in a selected state in the lower selection area moves in order.
For example, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is backwardly
rotated in a display state of FIG. 8, the item that is in a
selected state moves from "AAA" to "ZZZ" and "YYY". Also, if the
remote manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the item that is in
a selected state moves from "AAA" to "BBB" and "CCC". As described
above, if the rotating manipulation is forward rotation, the item
that is in a selected state moves downward in order, while if the
rotating manipulation is backward rotation, the item that is in a
selected state moves upward in order. In this case, the display
type of the item that is in a selected state, for example, the text
color, background color, font, text size, or the like, may be
changed in addition.
[0135] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
press-manipulated in a state where the item that is in a selected
state is "My Best 1", the item is shifted to the music piece search
manipulation screen. If the remote manipulation unit 116 is
tilt-manipulated in the upward direction and downward direction,
the item that is in an upper selected state is shifted. For
example, in the case of the tilt manipulation in the upward
direction, the manipulation screen moves from "My Best" to "Album",
while in the case of the tilt manipulation in the downward
direction, the manipulation screen moves to "Genre". Also, if the
item that is in an upper selected state is shifted, the
manipulation screen is changed to the corresponding manipulation
screen. For example, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
tilt-manipulated in the left direction, the manipulation screen is
shifted to the genre search manipulation screen. If the remote
manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in the downward
direction, the manipulation screen is shifted to the manipulation
screen of the upper hierarchy items, that is, the HDD manipulation
screen.
[0136] [Music Piece Title Display Enlargement Screen]
[0137] In this embodiment, when it is detected that the selection
manipulation is stopped, a display area of the selected item is
enlarged in an arrangement direction in which the items are
arranged. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a music piece title
display enlargement screen. Search items are displayed in the upper
area 304 of the manipulation screen area 301, and an item that is
in a selected state, i.e. "Album" in this embodiment, is displayed
in the upper selection display area 307. Also, in the intermediate
area 305, an item that is in a selected state, i.e. album name
"AAA" in this embodiment, is displayed in the intermediate
selection display area 308. Also, selectable music piece titles are
displayed in the lower area 306 and are arranged in an arrangement
direction (upward/downward direction of the screen). In the music
piece title display enlargement screen, the display lower selection
display area 309 is enlarged in the arrangement direction relative
to the display lower selection display area 309 in the music piece
selection manipulation screen. In the lower selection area 309,
detailed information about the music piece that is in a selected
state, for example, "Artist Name", "Recording Date", or the like,
is displayed. In this case, the display type of the item that is in
a selected state, for example, the text color, background color,
font, text size, or the like, may be changed in addition.
[0138] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
rotation-manipulated or tilt-manipulated, the manipulation screen
is shifted to the just previous manipulation screen, and an
operation that corresponds to the corresponding manipulation
(change of the display type) is performed.
[0139] In the foregoing description, it is exemplified that "Album"
is selected in the upper area. However, the same manipulation
contents and display state are obtained even in a state where other
items, such as "My Best" and the like, are selected.
[0140] As described above, by enlarging the hierarchy lower
selection display area, the visibility of the item that is selected
by the user is improved. Also, by reducing the number of items
being displayed, it is possible to further enlarge the enlarged
area of the lower selection display area. Also, it is possible to
secure a necessary area according to the item by setting the lower
selection display area in accordance with the amount of information
about the detailed information or the number of items. The
display/non-display of the detailed information may be selected
according to the hierarchy.
[0141] [Navigation Manipulation Screen]
[0142] Next, a navigation manipulation screen will be described.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a navigation manipulation screen.
A title "Navigation" of the navigation manipulation screen is
displayed in the upper area 304 of the manipulation screen area
301. Also, selectable function items ("Place Registration",
"Destination", and the like) are displayed in the lower area 306.
In the same manner as the menu screen, if the remote manipulation
unit 116 is rotation-manipulated, the item that is in a selected
state in the lower selection area moves in order. For example, if
the remote manipulation unit 116 is backwardly rotated in a display
state of FIG. 10, the item that is in a selected state moves from
"Route" to "Guide Stop" and "Place Registration". Also, if the
remote manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the item that is in
a selected state moves from "Route" to "Facility Table" and
"Destination". As described above, if the rotating manipulation is
forward rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves
downward in order, while if the rotating manipulation is backward
rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves upward in
order. In this case, the display type of the item that is in a
selected state, for example, the text color, background color,
font, text size, or the like, may be changed in addition.
[0143] Also, if the item that is in a selected state, for example,
"Route", continues over a predetermined time, the manipulation
screen is shifted to the function display enlargement screen. If
the remote manipulation unit 116 is tilt-manipulated in the left
direction, the manipulation screen is shifted to the manipulation
screen of the items of the upper hierarchy, i.e. the menu
screen.
[0144] [Function Display Enlargement Screen]
[0145] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example of a function
display enlargement screen in the navigation manipulation screen.
Title is displayed in the upper area 304 of the manipulation screen
area 301, and "Navigation" that is in a selected state is displayed
in the upper selection display area 307. Selectable function items
are displayed in the lower area 306. The lower selection display
area is enlarged in the arrangement direction of the selectable
function items (upward/downward direction of the screen) relative
to the lower selection display area in a normal manipulation
screen, and the text with a large size is also displayed. In this
case, the display type of the item that is in a selected state, for
example, the text color, background color, font, text size, or the
like, may be changed in addition.
[0146] Also, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
rotation-manipulated or tilt-manipulated, the manipulation screen
is shifted to the just previous manipulation screen, and an
operation that corresponds to the corresponding manipulation
(change of the display type) is performed. By enlarging the
hierarchy lower selection display area, the visibility of the item
that is selected by the user is improved. Also, by reducing the
number of items being displayed, it is possible to further enlarge
the enlarged area of the lower selection display area. Also, it is
possible to secure a necessary area according to the item by
setting the lower selection display area in accordance with the
amount of information about the detailed information or the number
of items.
[0147] As described above, parts of the HDD manipulation screen and
the navigation manipulation screen have been described. However, in
the same manner as in other manipulation screens, display of the
upper area 304, the intermediate area 305, and the lower area 306
and item selection are performed according to the corresponding
operation situation or manipulation situation.
[0148] A display control of a screen that is displayed on the
display unit 113 will be described. The form screens of the
respective manipulation screens (background image portion except
for text) as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are stored in the memory 115.
The control unit 101 reads the corresponding form screen from the
memory 115, and stores the read form screen in a memory for display
processing according to the operation mode and operation state.
Also, the control unit 101, in accordance with the operation mode,
operation state, and manipulation of the remote manipulation unit
116 or the manipulation unit 114, selects data to be displayed
among various kinds of data obtained from the broadcast receiving
unit 102, the disc reproduction unit 103, and the like, for
example, a source name, album name, music piece name, broadcasting
station name (frequency), and the like, calculates a position where
the data is to be displayed, and stores the calculated position in
the memory for display processing. Also, the control unit generates
display image data by performing an image process which lithographs
the data to be displayed that is stored in the memory for display
processing in the position where the data is to be displayed on the
form screen stored in the memory for display processing, and
outputs the generated display image data to the image output unit
112.
[0149] Accordingly, the image output unit 112 outputs a driving
signal for lithographing the manipulation image from the control
unit 101 to the display unit 113 to form a desired manipulation
screen. At this time, by repeating the image processing, for
example, the display of a moving image, in which the display item
of the lower area 306 moves, is realized.
[0150] Based on the user's manipulation, an enlargement display
process for enlarging the lower selection display area will be
described using a flowchart of FIG. 12. This process is repeatedly
performed when the selection screen is displayed by the control
unit 101.
[0151] In step S1, it is determined whether or not the manipulation
by the remote manipulation unit 116 exists. If there is no
manipulation, the processing proceeds to step S2. If there is a
manipulation, the processing proceeds to step S4. In step 82, it is
determined whether no manipulation by the remote manipulation unit
116 continues over a predetermined time. The elapsed time for which
there is no manipulation after the just previous manipulation of
the remote manipulation unit 116 was performed is measured, and if
the elapsed time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time
(for example, 0.5 second), it is determined that no manipulation
continues over the predetermined time, and the processing proceeds
to step 83. Also, if the elapsed time is shorter than the
predetermined time, it is determined that no manipulation continues
for time shorter than the predetermined time, and thus the
processing has ended. In step S3, a screen obtained by enlarging
the lower selection display area is displayed on the display unit
113, and then the processing has ended. For example, with respect
to the music piece selection manipulation screen, the music piece
title display portion that is the lower selection display area is
enlarged to be displayed. At this time, if the enlarged screen is
displayed, the display of the corresponding enlargement display
screen continues. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the
rotating manipulation of the remote manipulation unit 116 exists.
In the case of the rotating manipulation, the proceeding moves to
step 85. In the case where the rotating manipulation does not
exist, the processing moves to step S6. In step S5, the display
area of the lower selection display item is made to have a typical
size, i.e. the enlarged display is released, and the processing
moves to step S6. At this time, if the display area is in a typical
display state (a state where the lower selection display area is
not enlarged to be displayed), the display state is maintained. In
step S6, the lower selection display item moves to suit the
rotating manipulation direction of the remote manipulation unit
116, and then the processing has ended. In step S7, it is
determined whether or not the tilt manipulation of the remote
manipulation unit 116 exists. In the case of the tilt manipulation,
the proceeding moves to step S8. In the case where the tilt
manipulation does not exist, the processing moves to step S12. In
step S8, it is determined whether or not the tilt manipulation of
the remote manipulation unit 116 in the upward/downward direction
exists. In the case of the tilt manipulation in the upward/downward
direction, the proceeding moves to step S9. In the case where the
tilt manipulation in the upward/downward direction does not exist,
the processing moves to step S10. In step S9, the upper selection
display item moves to suit the upward/downward direction of the
tilt manipulation of the remote manipulation unit 116. Also, the
shift of the selected screen (display contents of the lower
hierarchy) according to the selected upper selection display item
is performed. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the tilt
manipulation of the remote manipulation unit 116 is the left
direction tilt manipulation. In the case of the tilt manipulation
in the left direction, the processing moves to step S11. In the
case where the tilt manipulation is not the tilt manipulation in
the left direction, the processing has ended. In step S11, the
hierarchy that was displayed on its upper hierarchy moves to the
lower area 306, and then the processing has ended. That is, the
object of selection manipulation of the rotating manipulation
becomes the upper hierarchy. Also, the shifting of the screen
according to the movement of the hierarchy (change of the display
contents of the upper/lower area 306) is performed. By this
processing, the hierarchy movement to the upper hierarchy is
performed. In step S12, it is determined whether or not the
manipulation of the remote manipulation unit 116 is the pressing
manipulation. In the case of the pressing manipulation, the
processing moves to step S13. In the case where the manipulation is
not the pressing manipulation, the processing has ended. In step
S13, the decision processing of the item of the lower selection
display area (it is determined that the item of the lower selection
display area is selected, and the selected item is used to process
the change of the reproduced music piece and so on) is performed,
and then the processing has ended. If there is no manipulation over
the predetermined time through the above-described processing, the
lower selection display area is enlarged, while if there is the
manipulation, such as the rotating manipulation, the tilt
manipulation, or the like, the processing that suits the
corresponding manipulation can be performed.
[0152] In selecting the reproduced music piece, the reproduction
process of the selected music will be described using the flowchart
of FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows the pressing manipulation music
reproduction process that reproduces the music piece that is in a
selected state when the pressing manipulation (decision
manipulation) is performed in the music piece selection
manipulation screen. This pressing manipulation music reproduction
process is executed by the control unit 101 when the remote
manipulation unit 116 is selection-manipulated by the rotating
manipulation or the pressing manipulation in the selection
screen.
[0153] In step P11, it is determined whether or not the selection
manipulation is the pressing manipulation. In the case of the
pressing manipulation, the processing moves to step P12. Also, if
the selection manipulation is not the pressing manipulation, the
processing moves to step P13. In step P12, in changing the
reproduced music piece, the value of the rotary counter is
overwritten on the music piece reproduction counter, and then the
processing has ended. The rotary counter is a counter that counts
up and down according to the direction of the rotating
manipulation, and the corresponding counter value becomes the value
that indicates the music piece that is in a selected state. Also,
the music reproduction counter is a counter that stores what music
piece the music piece being reproduced in the selectable list is,
and the music piece recorded in the list which corresponds to the
value of the music piece reproduction counter is reproduced (an
instruction signal for reproducing the corresponding music piece is
output to the HD reproduction unit 104). Through this process, the
music being reproduced is shifted to the music that is in a
selected state. In step P13, the manipulation direction of the
rotating manipulation is determined. In the case of the backward
rotation, the processing moves to step P14. Also, in the case of
the forward rotation, the processing moves to step P16.
[0154] In step P14, the rotary counter value is subtracted by 1,
and the processing moves to step P15. In step P15, the display
counter value is subtracted by 1, and the processing has ended. The
display counter is a counter for designating the music piece that
is displayed in the selection display area of the selection screen,
and the music piece title that corresponds to the display counter
value is displayed in the selection display area. Also, the display
counter value is also the value that is used to display the
corresponding music piece in the list among the whole music pieces
to be selected. In step P16, the rotary counter value is added by
1, and the processing moves to step P17. In step P17, the display
counter value is added by 1, and the processing has ended. At this
time, in the case of the subtraction from the lower limit value,
the rotary counter and the display counter perform recording to
overwrite the upper limit value, while in the case of the addition
from the upper limit value, the rotary counter and the display
counter performs recording to overwrite the lower limit value. That
is, if the rotation is made over the front end of the list of the
selected music piece, the music of the rear end is reproduced,
while if the rotation is made over the rear end of the list, the
music of the front end is reproduced. Through the above-described
process, the display is updated according to the manipulation
direction of the rotating manipulation. Also, by storing the
distance from the music being reproduced, the music that is in a
selected state is reproduced.
[0155] In this case, although the flowchart is omitted, if the
reproduced music piece moves regardless of the manipulation, such
as if the reproduction is shifted to the reproduction of the next
music piece after the end of the music piece being reproduced (the
value of the music piece reproduction counter is changed) and so
on, the process of "recording the value of the music piece
reproduction counter in the display counter" in consideration of
the movement to the corresponding reproduced music piece as a
trigger is performed to make the music piece information display
correspond to the music piece whilst reproduction. By this
interruption process, the music piece information about the new
corresponding reproduced music piece is displayed as the item that
is in a selected state in the lower selection area according to the
movement to the reproduced music piece.
[0156] FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C are flowcharts illustrating a music
piece selection manipulation process which reproduces music that is
in a selected state without decision manipulation in the music
piece selection manipulation screen and realizing reproduction of
the music through skipping over the music pieces if the rotating
manipulation continues at high speed. This selection reproduction
process is executed by the control unit 101 in accordance with a
predetermined interrupting condition in a state where the music
piece selection manipulation screen is displayed. In this process,
the reproduced music piece and the music piece that is in a
selected state coincide with each other, and thus the music piece
reproduction counter and the display counter are in a combined use
state.
[0157] The rotating manipulation interrupting process of FIG. 14A
starts when the rotating manipulation is made in a selection
manipulation screen display state. In step P21, the rotation
direction of the rotating manipulation is determined. If the
rotation direction is backward rotation, the processing moves to
step P22. Also, if the rotation direction is forward rotation, the
processing moves to step P24. In step P22, the rotary counter value
is subtracted by 1, and the process moves to step P23. In step P23,
the pulse counter value is subtracted by 1, and the rotating
manipulation interrupting process has ended. The pulse counter is a
counter that is used to determine the high-speed manipulation, i.e.
the number of music pieces to be skipped, by counting the number of
high-speed rotating manipulations. In step P24, the rotary counter
value is set to +1, and the processing moves to step P25. In step
P25, the pulse counter value is added by 1, and the rotating
manipulation interrupting process has ended.
[0158] The timer interrupting process of FIG. 14B is performed at
predetermined time intervals in displaying the selection
manipulation screen. In this case, the predetermined time
corresponds to a value that is set to generate the interruption at
the time of the threshold value that is determined as the
high-speed manipulation. In step P26, a timer for measuring the
predetermined time is reset, and the processing moves to step P27.
Based on this timing, the next timer interrupting process is
performed after the predetermined time. In step P27, the value that
is obtained by adding the rotary counter value to the music piece
reproduction counter is overwritten on the music piece reproduction
counter, and the processing moves to step P28. That is, if the
rotating manipulation with a speed that is not a high speed is
performed, the reproduced music piece is shifted to the next music
piece or the previous music piece. In step P28, the rotary counter
is reset, and the processing moves to step P29. In step P29, the
pulse counter is reset, and the timer interrupting process has
ended. That is, if the pulse counter value does not reach the
counter value that indicates the high-speed manipulation within the
predetermined time, the pulse counter is reset, and the movement of
the reproduced music piece based on the high-speed manipulation is
not performed.
[0159] The pulse counter interrupting process of FIG. 14C is a
process that reproduces the reproduced music piece by skipping the
predetermined number of music pieces in the case where a high-speed
rotating manipulation is performed, and starts when the pulse
counter value becomes a predetermined number. In step P30, the
value that is obtained by adding the pulse counter value to the
music piece reproduction counter value is overwritten on the music
piece reproduction counter, and the processing moves to step P31.
In step P31, the pulse counter is reset, and the pulse counter
interrupting process has ended.
[0160] ["Return" Manipulation]
[0161] In the case of a hierarchy structure in manipulation,
particularly, in the case of a deep hierarchy structure, it is
frequent that a user desires to return the operation state to the
state before the manipulation. In this embodiment, the operation
state returns to that before the manipulation by a simple
manipulation. That is, by manipulating a "Return" button, the
operation state returns to the operation state before the
manipulation.
[0162] Specifically, when the "Return" button is manipulated, the
operation state returns to the latest operation state that
continued over the predetermined time before the manipulation. This
operation process will be described using the flowchart illustrated
in FIGS. 15A and 15B. FIG. 15A illustrates the process when the
"Return" button is manipulated, and FIG. 15B illustrates the
operation state recording process. The "Return" button manipulation
process is performed by the control unit 101 when the "Return"
button is manipulated, and the operation state recording process is
performed by the control unit 101 when the operation state
continues over the predetermined time (when the operation decision
state continues over the predetermined time).
[0163] If the operation decision state continues over the
predetermined time, the operation state recording process starts,
and the processing moves to step R1. In step R1, the operation
state at that time point is temporarily stored in the memory, and
the processing moves to step R2. In step R2, the operation state
temporarily stored at the last time is overwritten on the previous
operation state recording portion of the memory as the destination
of the "Return" manipulation, and then the processing has ended.
Through the above-described process, the latest operation state
that continued over the predetermined time before the manipulation
can be constantly recorded in the previous operation state recoding
portion.
[0164] Also, if the "Return" manipulation is performed, the
"Return" button manipulation process starts, and the processing
moves to step R3. In step R3, the operation state recorded in the
previous operation state recording portion is read, the operation
state of the apparatus is made to be the read operation state, and
then the processing moves to step R4. In step R4, the operation
state temporarily stored at the last time is overwritten on the
previous operation state recording portion of the memory as the
destination of the "Return" manipulation, and then the processing
has ended. Through the above-described process, the operation state
returns to the latest operation state that continued over the
predetermined time before the manipulation of the "Return" button,
and the latest operation state that continued over the
predetermined time before the "Return" manipulation can be recorded
in the previous operation state recoding portion.
[0165] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a historic order music
piece selection manipulation screen. Search items are displayed in
the upper area 304 of the manipulation screen area 301, and an item
that is in a selected state in the just previous manipulation
screen, i.e. "Reproduction History" in this embodiment, is
displayed in the upper selection display area 307. In this
embodiment, the intermediate area 305 is a non-display area. Also,
a predetermined number of music piece titles, for example, 7 music
piece titles, which were reproduced in the past, are displayed in
the order of their reproduction time (as the upper portion of the
drawing is nearer, recently reproduced music pieces are displayed)
in the lower area 306. In this case, although the number of music
pieces simultaneously displayed on the screen is 7 based on the
relationship of the size of the screen, for example, about 50 music
pieces are provided as display candidates, and the displayed music
piece titles are changed by the manipulation to be described
hereinafter.
[0166] In the same manner as the music piece title menu screen, if
the remote manipulation unit 116 is rotation-manipulated, the item
that is in a selected state in the lower selection area moves in
order. For example, if the remote manipulation unit 116 is
backwardly rotated in a display state of FIG. 16, the item that is
in a selected state moves from "Track 1" to "Track 10" and "Track
9". Also, if the remote manipulation unit is forwardly rotated, the
item that is in a selected state moves from "Track 1" to "Track 2"
and "Track 3". As described above, if the rotating manipulation is
forward rotation, the item that is in a selected state moves
downward in order (the recently reproduced music piece side), while
if the rotating manipulation is backward rotation, the item that is
in a selected state moves upward in order (old reproduced music
piece side). In this case, the display type of the item that is in
a selected state, for example, the text color, background color,
font, text size, or the like, may be changed in addition.
[0167] Also, if the item (music piece title) that is in a selected
state, for example, "AAA", continues over the predetermined time,
the manipulation screen is shifted to a music piece title display
enlargement screen. If the remote manipulation unit 116 is
tilt-manipulated in the upward/downward direction, the item that is
in an upper selected state moves, and the manipulation screen is
changed to the manipulation screen according to the movement.
[0168] Also, if a previous music piece reproduction/next music
piece reproduction manipulation button such as a touch panel or the
like is manipulated on the historic order music piece selection
manipulation screen, the music piece, based on the currently
reproduced music piece, is shifted to the previous music piece or
the next music piece in historic order, and the corresponding music
piece is reproduced. At this time, even without the historic order
music piece selection manipulation screen, the above-described
historic order music piece selection may be performed during the HD
reproduction or disc reproduction.
[0169] The above-described operation can be realized by storing the
reproduced music piece history in the memory and searching for and
reproducing the corresponding music piece with reference to the
stored reproduced music piece history in the case where the
previous music piece reproduction/next music piece reproduction
manipulation was performed. Also, by determining the reproduced
music pieces that remain as a history as those which were
reproduced for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) or
more, the reproduced music pieces which were not intended by the
user can be excluded from the history.
[0170] [Position Relationship Display of Selected Items]
[0171] A user sometimes desires to know the position relationships
of all items of the list that are in a selected state. In this
embodiment, a display that indicates the position relationships in
the whole list of the selected items is performed. Specifically,
the display takes the shape illustrated in FIG. 17 as follow.
[0172] <Bar Display>
[0173] A band portion 501 is displayed along the left end portion
in an item arrangement direction in the lower area 306. Then,
positions according to the order of the respective items are set so
that the upper end of the band portion becomes the position of the
first item and the lower end thereof becomes the position of the
last item, and a position mark 502 is displayed in the position
corresponding to the order of the selected item in the band portion
501. At this time, the band portion is divided by the total number
of items, and the positions of the respective items are determined
by allocating divided positions to the respective items in their
order. Such display data are stored in the memory. Such display can
be realized by reading the position that corresponds to the
selected item from the memory and displaying the position mark 502
in the position.
[0174] <Numerical Value Display>
[0175] The whole number of items and the order number of the
selected item are displayed (503). This can be realized by storing
the whole number of items and the order of the respective items in
the memory and reading and displaying the order of the selected
item and the whole number of items from the memory. Such a display
is not limited to the numerical number display, and it is possible
to perform display using diagrams 504, for example, using display
types such as change of the number of diagrams, change of the size
of the diagrams and change of the coloring rate of different colors
for a plurality of diagrams, and the like.
[0176] Although embodiments of the present invention have been
described, the present invention is not limited to those
embodiments, and diverse modifications thereof are possible.
Hereinafter, such modifications will be described. All types
including the types described in the above-described embodiments
and types to be described hereinafter can be appropriately
combined.
[0177] For example, in the above-described embodiments, it is
exemplified that an instrument panel remote manipulator 116 is
installed. However, the remote manipulation unit 116 may be
arranged in a certain device that the user can easily manipulate.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the remote manipulation
unit may be installed on a steering wheel 505. In the embodiment
illustrated in this drawing, both the remote manipulation unit 116,
which can perform all of the rotating manipulation, pressing
manipulation, and tilt manipulation, and switch buttons 506, such
as a menu key for switching various kinds of modes, a direct key,
and the like, are installed on the left side of the steering wheel
505. In this case, the remote manipulation unit 116 may be arranged
on the left side of the steering wheel 505, and the switch buttons
506 may be arranged on the right side of the steering wheel
505.
[0178] Also, in the above-described embodiment, it is exemplified
that the various kinds of appliances are realized by software
though the operation process of the CPU 1 according to the program.
However, parts of the functions may be realized by electric
hardware circuits.
[0179] Next, the screen is divided into a main area 507 and a sub
area 508, and preferential display types of the respective divided
areas will be described.
[0180] [Image Preferential Display]
[0181] Since an image of a TV broadcast or movie recorded on DVD is
for amusement, a high-definition image quality is necessary.
Accordingly, in this embodiment, with respect to a specified image
of a TV broadcast or the like illustrated in FIG. 19, a display
area suitable to the corresponding image is set, the image is
expanded or compressed to suit the display area, and the processed
image is displayed on the corresponding area. Also, a manipulation
screen is displayed on the remaining area. In this case, the
display area suitable to the corresponding image may be an area
having a size for the maximum image in a state where the original
aspect ratio is maintained, or an area having a size in which the
number of pixels suits the maintained picture quality (an area
having a size which is integer times or 1/integer times the number
of dots of the original image, in which no distortion due to the
image expansion and compression process occurs).
[0182] Also, during the manipulation, in order to heighten the
manipulation visibility, the manipulation screen is enlarged until
a predetermined time elapses after the completion of the
manipulation the start of which is detected, and an image screen
such as a TV broadcast or the like is reduced. In the manipulation
state, the quality of the image is not so much necessary, and thus
manipulability can be improved as suppressing the bad influence on
the image quality deterioration.
[0183] At this time, such a display can be realized by storing the
setting state of the screen area according to the operation state
(such as reproduction source selection state and so on) and the
manipulation state of the apparatus and setting the screen area by
reading the setting state of the screen area that is stored
according to the operation state of the apparatus, and performing
expansion, compression, and generation of the display image
according to the setting state of the screen area.
[0184] [Area Preferential Display]
[0185] Further, other display types will be described. The screen
area is divided into a main area 507 and a sub area 508 (which may
be three or more areas). Also, the display priorities of the images
are set according to the operation state of the apparatus or the
manipulation state, and then are stored in the memory. Then, an
image to be displayed is generated according to the operation state
of the apparatus and the manipulation state, and based on the kinds
of the generated images, the priorities are given thereto in
accordance with the set priorities stored in the memory. The images
are displayed on the main area 507 and the sub area 508 in the
order of their priority, and the images of which the priority is
lower than the number of display areas are not displayed. Through
this process, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, images having
upper priorities according to the operation state or the
manipulation state of the apparatus are displayed in the main area
507 and the sub area 508, and thereafter, if the operation state or
the manipulation state of the apparatus is changed, the images to
be displayed and their priorities are also changed, and thus the
images to be displayed in the main area 507 and the sub area 508
are changed.
[0186] In this case, such display can be realized by storing the
setting state of the screen area according to the operation state
(such as reproduction source selection state and so on) and the
manipulation state of the apparatus, setting the screen area by
reading the setting state of the screen area that is stored
according to the operation state of the apparatus, setting the
priorities of the respective images based on the kinds of the
respective images, determining the display areas of the respective
images based on the setting state of the screen area and the
priorities, performing expansion, compression, and generation of
the display image according to the corresponding display areas, and
displaying the processed images in the corresponding areas,
respectively.
[0187] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention
have been described with reference to the music piece reproduction
selection manipulation in reproducing the music. However, this is
merely a detailed example using the technical features of the
present invention, and the technical features of the present
invention can be applied to diverse types of manipulations in
various kinds of electronic devices such as image appliances,
navigation devices, and the like, and particularly to devices
having a multifunction of which the selection manipulation is
complicated.
[0188] [Area Preferential Display]
[0189] Further, other display types will be described. The screen
area is divided into a main area 507 and a sub area 508 (which may
be three or more areas). Also, the display priorities of the images
are set according to the operation state or the manipulation state
of the apparatus, and then are stored in the memory. Then, an image
to be displayed is generated according to the operation state and
the manipulation state of the apparatus, and based on the kinds of
the generated images, the priorities are given thereto in
accordance with the set priorities stored in the memory. The images
are displayed on the main area 507 and the sub area 508 in the
order of their priority, and the images of which the priority is
lower than the number of display areas are not displayed. Through
this process, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 2013, images having
upper priorities according to the operation state or the
manipulation state of the apparatus are displayed in the main area
507 and the sub area 508, and thereafter, if the operation state or
the manipulation state of the apparatus is changed, the images to
be displayed and their priorities are also changed, and thus the
images to be displayed in the main area 507 and the sub area 508
are changed.
[0190] In this case, such display can be realized by storing the
setting state of the screen area according to the operation state
(such as reproduction source selection state and so on) of the
apparatus and the manipulation state, setting the screen area by
reading the setting state of the screen area that is stored
according to the operation state of the apparatus, setting the
priorities of the respective images based on the kinds of the
respective images, determining the display areas of the respective
images based on the setting state of the screen area and the
priorities, performing expansion, compression, and generation of
the display image according to the corresponding display areas, and
displaying the processed images in the corresponding areas,
respectively.
[0191] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention
have been described with reference to the music piece reproduction
selection manipulation in reproducing the music. However, this is
merely a detailed example using the technical features of the
present invention, and the technical features of the present
invention can be applied to diverse types of manipulations in
various kinds of electronic devices such as image appliances,
navigation devices, and the like, and particularly to devices
having a multifunction of which the selection manipulation is
complicated.
* * * * *